GERO 14029 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Baby Boomers, Cognitive Style, Sleep Disorder
29 Oct 2018
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Document Summary
Mental illness is not an inevitable part of aging. Baby boomers expected to have higher needs for services than previous cohorts. Depression is the most important, most frequent mental health problem of later life. Depressive disorder: persistent and something that interferes significantly with the ability to function. Depression in later life is often under diagnosed and not always treated. Major depression is more common at younger ages. Older adults may experience more frequent, minor depressive symptoms but not major depression. Rates of depression are higher in healthcare settings. Behavior: changes activities to modify mood, increase the number of pleasant activities. Older adults commit suicide at higher rates than any other age group. Physical illness involving pain and poor prognosis. Alcohol abuse in later life is often hidden and overlooked. Older adults metabolize medications and alcohol slower than younger people. Drug use is less of a problem in older adults. Sensory losses are common triggers of paranoid thinking.
